January
The first Youth Charter event of 2017 reflected the agency’s global programmes of work, in particular within Southern Africa and our art and culture programme. This was highlighted in the private showing of Mandela’s Gun. This is the most recent depiction of the life of the late Nelson Mandela and the story behind the ANC struggle to challenge the injustice of apartheid. The screening was held at the Palace of Westminster, as guests of The Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP.
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24 hours later, as part of the development of the ICZ MediaCityUK Community Campus, the Youth Charter delivered the inaugural Float Like a Butterfly (FLAB) Social Coach Leadership Programme (SCLP) with students and staff from the University of Salford on 31st January 2017. The Youth Charter facilitated the delivery of the YC FLAB SCLP session with Erin Herbert, Director of Programming at Muhammad Ali Center.
February
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The Youth Charter held its first ‘Float Like A Butterfly Social Coach Leadership Programme’ one day seminar at St Mary’s Primary School, Moss Side, Manchester on 1st February 2017. The day provided a unique reflection of the Ali values and how they are applied within a Social Coach Leadership action learning setting. The workshop was attended by 25 participants from 9 education, community and public sector organisations.
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The ‘Float Like A Butterfly Social Coach Leadership Programme’ is an exciting collaboration with the Muhammad Ali Center, as part of the Ali Legacy initiatives that are now being developed in his name and is the first initiative outside of Louisville, Kentucky.
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The ‘Float Like A Butterfly Social Coach Leadership Programme’ workshop also presented the unique on-line and digital tools that will see this historic first developed as an on-line support network and digital platform that will inspire a global movement of social, cultural and economic impact.
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The day was led by Geoff Thompson, Executive Chair of the Youth Charter and Erin Herbert, Director of Programming, Muhammad Ali Center.
The Youth Charter was also invited to participate in a civic Muhammad Ali Commemoration Event in Leeds, which celebrated the life of The Greatest.
March
The month of March was focused on the Youth Charter’s 24th Anniversary and the launch of the Youth Charter 2016 Games Legacy Impact Report at the Palace of Westminster on 23rd March 2017. However, due to the tragic terrorist attack on 22nd March, this event was postponed until 20th April.
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To mark the Youth Charter’s 24th Anniversary a LinkedIn article - 24 years on. A Youth Charter Legacy opportunity for all... - was posted by executive chairman, Geoff Thompson.
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Geoff and Janice Thompson, travelled to the United Arab Emirates to deliver a three-day multi-sport Activity Camp for children and young people in Ajman, in partnership with Ajman University. The Youth Charter is now looking forward to deliver future programmes of work in the United Arab Emirates as part of the Expo 2020 and World Karate Championships being hosted in Dubai. Geoff Thompson said:
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“It was a great and unexpected end for our visit to the region to go to Dubai and to re-engage
with the karate family. With Expo 2020 and the World Karate Championships being
hosted in Dubai in an Olympic year, the world will convene in this fantastic city.”
April
The month of April began with the 4th International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP 2017) for which the Youth Charter delivered LinkedIn article of our contribution to the Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) movement with debate and discussion for how SDP sector can improve its contribution to achieving the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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The Youth Charter launched its 2016 Games Legacy Impact Report at the Palace of Westminster, exactly four weeks after we had originally planned to, on Thursday 20th April. However, a general election had been called two days early by Prime Minister Theresa May. This prevented Ministers and MPs from attending the event, however, our host Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker of the House Commons, graciously took time out of busy schedule to be with us and show his continued support for the Youth Charter’s work.
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The Youth Charter also hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in prestigious surroundings of the Palace of Westminster before the launch of the 2016 Games Legacy Impact Report. The AGM was well attended and Youth Charter development’s received positive feedback from all present.
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Please click to download Executive Summary - YC 2016 Games Legacy Impact Report.
May
Following the hosting by the Youth Charter of HAN University students in April 2016, the Youth Charter hosted a further group of HAN University students in May 2017. This provided further insight and progress in the development of the Youth Charter Community Campus project.
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The students were visiting Manchester and Sheffield as part of a three-day study trip, which will include visiting community sport projects. The Youth Charter hosted the HAN University delegates at our headquarters in Salford Quays and MediaCityUK.
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The HAN University delegates were introduced into the Community Campus Model, the Social Coach Leadership Programme (SCLP) and how these can be used for ‘Community Development through Sport’ and ‘Sport Development in the Community’. With Sport also having to be part of a wider provision of arts, culture and digital technology opportunities.
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For further information please download the Tour Report.
June
The 3rd June marked the first anniversary of the passing of Muhammad Ali, the Greatest sporting Olympian, humanitarian and icon of all time with a tribute article on how the Ali legacy is more relevant than ever before and how it can applied locally, nationally and globally in these uncertain and challenging times.
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The Youth Charter developed a workshop and presentation at the European Development Days (EDD) conference in Brussels, after being invited to attend by Youth Charter Ambassador, Elsa-Gayle Zekeng. The Youth Charter’s workshop and presentation focused on discussion and debate on how young people can be engaged in the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the development of Community Campuses.
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As the 2017 General Election concluded on Thursday 8th June, having been announced two days before our visit to the House of Commons, the Youth Charter launched its 2017 Legacy Manifesto which applied the Legacy Manifesto Pledges of the five main UK parties to our five Legacy Development Goals of Education, Health, Social Order, Environment and Vocation Training, Employment and Enterprise, as well as, ‘Collaboration and Partnership’ and ‘Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Participation (EDIP)’.
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Please click to download YC 2017 Legacy Manifesto.
July
YC CBBC Summer Social Festival FREE Schools Event
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The Youth Charter, in collaboration with CBBC, invited schools to participate in a FREE Schools preview event to the annual CBBC Summer Social Festival which was held on the piazza at MediaCityUK on the 7th – 9th July 2017. The Youth Charter and CBBC invited: 17 schools; 680 pupils; 70 staff.
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The FREE event for schools included: CBBC Zone with activities related CBBC Programming; Learning with University of Salford; Football with MUFC Foundation; Rugby with Toronto Wolfpack; Sport with University of Salford
August
The month of August saw the Youth Charter continue with its project and programme development in preparation for the coming academic year, this included the development of the YC Digiwise Physical Activity project as a legacy to the CBBC Summer Social FREE schools event.
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The YC Digiwise Physical Activity project will increase physical literacy for children and young people in Salford through an ‘interactively active and actively interactive’ programme. The YC Digiwise Physical Activity project is being developed in partnership with Amaven. The Amaven Platform and Software for delivering, measuring, monitoring and improving Physical Literacy and Health & Wellbeing in Primary Schools.
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The Youth Charter also participated in a Salford Youth Day event at the University of Salford on 12th August, International Youth Day.
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The Youth Charter Combatwise programme saw support provided to Johnny Roy Boxing Club in Preston and Geoff being interview for documentary on Combat Sports.
September
YC FLAB SCLP Louisville Workshop
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In September, the Youth Charter visited Louisville, this included:
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Four visits to Smoketown
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Participation in Chief Conrad’s Peace Walks
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Youth Charter presentation to Louisville Private, Public and Third Sector
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Float Like a Butterfly Social Coach Leadership Programme (FLAB SCLP) Workshop
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Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards
The Float Like A Butterfly Social Coach Leadership Program (FLAB SCLP) is the culmination of the Youth Charter’s ten-year partnership with the Muhammad Ali Institute and Center and provides a program of opportunity for all through the life, times and legacy of the Greatest sporting humanitarian, Muhammad Ali.
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For more information please download the Workshop Report.
As part of our continued contribution to the delivery of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals a Youth Charter ‘25’ Healthwise submission to WHO Global Action Plan for Physical Activity was produced, with the submission due to be published on the WHO website.
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A hectic start to the new Academic Year saw the Youth Charter conclude September with Executive Chair, Geoff Thompson, participating as judge in the Salford Hackathon event at The Landing in MediaCityUK.
October
The Youth Charter embarked its much-anticipated move from its home and headquarters for 21 years in Anchorage 2, Salford Quays to the 4th Floor of The Landing in MediaCityUK. Whilst the Youth Charter was sad to leave Anchorage 2 we were also excited to arrive in the heart of MediaCityUK and all the opportunities the area has for the youth and communities of Salford and Greater Manchester.
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As we arrived in our new home and headquarters the Youth Charter immediately took on a team of placement students from the University of Salford. With strategic lead and direction provided by Geoff Thompson and tutorage by Dr Mick Hides, the students undertook assignments relating to the Youth Charter’s ongoing work, which will contribute to our future project and programme delivery. The students that started in October 2017 were: Joanne Ilori; Roberta Abdullahi; Melody Musarurwa; Christine Mufushwa; Nyasha Rukani; and Dugmore Chavhundura.
November
Another busy month saw the Youth Charter’s continued development work on Community Campuses in Louisville, USA, with our transatlantic partners provided with access to our Digital Platforms and Passport. This also saw the Youth Charter produce a report on the Float Like a Butterfly Social Coach Leadership workshop in Louisville, in preparation for the visit of Mayor Fischer and Rashaad Abdur-Rahman to London.
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A proposal for a Newham Community Campus was also initiated, with additional funding applications prepared and summited.
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The development of the Digiwise Physical Activity project also continued at a pace with our partner agencies and student placement, Jonathan, from UTC. Whilst the University of Salford student placements all made excellent progress on their interrelated project assignments, with Jay Bannerjee joining the intern team.
December
The festive month of December started with the visit of Mayor of Louisville Greg Fischer and Rashaad Abdur-Rahman to London, the Olympic Borough of Newham and the University of East London.
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During the final month of 2017, the first of student interns completed their placements with the Youth Charter. This saw their dissertations submitted and their work presented to their placement supervisors. As they left, a further new student, Celestine Oziri, began his placement.
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A busy and productive 2017 ended with the Youth Charter’s new home in The Landing, MediaCityUK, officially opened by City Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett.
